Tasmania road trip itinerary
A full lap of Tasmania is 1,863 km over 14 days, starting and ending in Launceston. With 7 days, skip the west coast and drive the south and east coast one way from Hobart to Devonport; with 10 days, add Cradle Mountain, Strahan and Tarraleah. Some Tasmanian roads are unsealed, or long and winding, so squeezing the 14-day loop into a week is a rush.
Updated
Key facts
- Full lap of Tasmania
- 1,863 km over 14 days with 84 stops, starting and ending in Launceston
- Hobart to Devonport
- 280 km, 3 hours 15 minutes, so you can cross the island in less than 3.5 hours
- Daily distance
- Plan no more than 300 km per day
- Devonport to Cradle Mountain
- 79 km, 1 hour 20 minutes via Sheffield
- Launceston to Cradle Mountain
- 141 km, 2 hours
- Cradle Mountain to Strahan
- 151 km (day 5 of the 14-day lap)
- Dove Lake Road
- Private vehicles are not allowed during shuttle operating times; campervans, caravans and trailers are never allowed
- Fuel information
- Check TasALERT for fuel supply if you are heading off the beaten track, and FuelCheck TAS for real-time prices
Launceston to Launceston
about 1,092 km
Cradle Mountain
141 km
2 hours from Launceston. Dove Lake Road is closed to private vehicles during shuttle hours, so park at the visitor centre.
Strahan
about 292 km
151 km from Cradle Mountain. The 14-day lap uses Strahan as a base with a rest day.
Tarraleah
about 482 km
190 km from Strahan; the 14-day lap stays here before the run into Hobart.
Hobart
about 609 km
127 km from Tarraleah. Port Arthur is 92 km and 1 hour 30 minutes from Hobart, as a day trip.
Coles Bay (Freycinet)
about 802 km
193 km and 2 hours 35 minutes from Hobart. The Wineglass Bay Lookout walk is 2.6 km return, and a valid parks pass is needed for national park entry.
St Helens (Bay of Fires)
about 926 km
124 km from Coles Bay on the 14-day lap, then 166 km and 2 hours 35 minutes to Launceston via Scottsdale.
- Launceston
How long does it take to drive around Tasmania?
The full lap is 1,863 km with 84 stops over 14 days, starting and ending in Launceston. Its daily legs range from 4 km on the rest day in Strahan to 240 km between Eaglehawk Neck and Coles Bay. Without the detours, a straight cross-island run is short: Hobart to Devonport is 280 km and 3 hours 15 minutes.
Tasmania has no major freeways and many tempting detours, and some roads are unsealed, or long and winding, so allow plenty of time. The official advice is no more than 300 km a day, and at that rate the 1,863 km lap is just over 6 days of pure driving, before any time to stop.
Tasmania road trip in 7 days (Hobart to Devonport)
This plan strings together the standard drive legs and skips the west coast. It suits a one-way hire from Hobart Airport and a Spirit of Tasmania sailing from Devonport at the end.
Total driving is about 887 km, with the longest day at 193 km.
- Day 1: Arrive in Hobart and pick up the car.
- Day 2: Port Arthur day trip, 92 km each way (1 hour 30 minutes).
- Day 3: Hobart to Coles Bay, 193 km (2 hours 35 minutes), and the Freycinet walks.
- Day 4: Coles Bay to St Helens, 124 km, for the Bay of Fires.
- Day 5: St Helens to Launceston, 166 km (2 hours 35 minutes) via Scottsdale.
- Day 6: Launceston to Cradle Mountain, 141 km (2 hours).
- Day 7: Cradle Mountain to Devonport, 79 km (1 hour 20 minutes).
Tasmania road trip in 10 days (Launceston loop)
With 10 days you can add the west coast, using the legs of the 14-day lap. It runs anticlockwise from Launceston and leaves two days free for Hobart, Launceston or weather.
Total driving is about 1,276 km including the Port Arthur day trip, with the longest day at 193 km.
- Day 1: Launceston to Cradle Mountain, 141 km.
- Day 2: Cradle Mountain to Strahan, 151 km.
- Day 3: Strahan to Tarraleah, 190 km.
- Day 4: Tarraleah to Hobart, 127 km.
- Day 5: Port Arthur day trip from Hobart, 92 km each way.
- Day 6: Hobart to Coles Bay, 193 km.
- Day 7: Coles Bay to St Helens, 124 km.
- Day 8: St Helens to Launceston, 166 km.
- Days 9 and 10: spare days for Launceston, Hobart or bad weather.
Tasmania road trip from Devonport: what to do after the ferry
Devonport is 79 km (1 hour 20 minutes) from Cradle Mountain via Sheffield, 100 km (1 hour 10 minutes) from Launceston and 280 km from Hobart. Cradle Mountain is therefore the natural first stop from a morning arrival.
Dove Lake Road is not open to private vehicles during shuttle hours, and campervans, motorhomes, caravans and trailers are not allowed on it at any time. A $15.50 shuttle fee applies to adult visitors (18 and over) unless a pass exempts them, and children under 18 travel free. Hire cars and the Spirit of Tasmania are covered in the ferry guide.
Which hire car set-up suits a Tasmania road trip?
A loop that starts and ends in the same place suits a return hire. A one-way route, such as Hobart to Devonport in the seven-day plan, suits picking up in one place and dropping in another. Whether a one-way fee applies is set by the company and shown in the search results for your dates.
Pick-up options are Devonport Airport for a ferry arrival, Launceston Airport for the north and Hobart Airport for the south.
Compare cars at Devonport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Check the pickup point and what the agreement allows on the roads in this guide before you book.
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Questions people ask
How long does it take to drive around Tasmania?
The full lap of the island is 1,863 km over 14 days, starting and ending in Launceston. You can do a shorter version, but the official advice is no more than 300 km a day.
Can you see Tasmania in 7 days?
Yes, if you choose one side. The south and east coast plan above covers about 887 km from Hobart to Devonport. Adding the west coast makes it a rush.
What is a good Tasmania 10 day itinerary?
A loop from Launceston via Cradle Mountain, Strahan, Tarraleah, Hobart, Freycinet and St Helens totals roughly 1,276 km with a Port Arthur day trip, and leaves two spare days.
Which direction should I drive around Tasmania?
The 14-day lap goes north-west first (Launceston, Boat Harbour, Stanley, Cradle Mountain, Strahan), then Hobart, then the east coast. The direction matters less than choosing where to end, because a one-way hire lets you finish in a different city.
Where do I start a Tasmania road trip from Devonport?
Cradle Mountain is 79 km and 1 hour 20 minutes from Devonport via Sheffield, and Launceston is 100 km away.
Can I take my hire car on the Spirit of Tasmania?
That depends on your rental agreement, and several major agreements restrict it. See the Spirit of Tasmania guide for the details.